Locking means



Aug. 23, 1932. v. H. HARIBERTl LOCKING MEANS Filed July 3, 1931 Sheets-Sheet 1 (IL asses 9% wvb :n f l y (J v Y I l :if 01111.99.

Aug. 23, 1932. V. H. HARBERT 1,873,643

LOCKING MEANS Aug 23, 1932,

zvSra TES v Ali VICTQRH. HARBERT, OF CHICAGO, AIFIJIJAIll'OIS, SSIGITOR-T ILLINOIS RAILWAY EQUIP*- IVIENT GOVJPANYLOF CHICAGO,.ILLINOS, A CQRPORATION OF LLINOIS LOCKING MEANS Ap'pncatiii inea huye, 1931. 4 seriai'nofaiasez.

VMy invention relates to means, more especially intended for vfastening or locking the hatch covers ofa railroad lrefrigerator car, although the means may b e equally-'as well employed for locking other devices in place. Y

My invention has for its object vthe provision of a hook type'of lock whereby the hatch cover may be locked in closed position and the usual types of car seals employed; while at the same time the improved means may be employed for holding the hatch cover in cail Ventilating position when desired.

My invention contemplates locking means wherein thelocking element -isso secured to or so associated with the-hasp member of the locking means'as to become an integral part 'thereof after the latter has been secured in place on the hatch closure that disassociation of the respective members is prevented.

As 'a result, my improved locking element will at all times be held in place whereit' may be readily moved or shifted to locking position.

The objects and advantages of my inven-V tion will lbe readily comprehended fromlthedetailed description of lthe accompanying drawings, wherein: Y

Figure l is a top plan View of a hatch closure and portion of a car-roof, with my improved locking means in locking position. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view with the locking means shown in elevation locked positio Figure 3 is a plan View of my improved locking means in unlocking position and showing, dotted lines, the manner of `assembling; a portion of one end being in section. f Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substanu tial'ly on the line 4 4 of Figure 3. Y Figure 5 is a plan view of a modified form of the'locling means, shownV in unlocking position. 4 Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of same. Figure 7 is a plan view of another modi;-

fied form of my invention, shown in lock-y ing position. A y

Figure 8 is a sectional'view of a portion of a different type of hatch closure of a refrig'erator car provided vwith the type of locking means shown in Figure 7 and in locking position.

Figure 9 isa 'front side elevation thereof.

The hatch closures or covers of refrigerator cars are generally lockedv inclosed position by the employment of a hook secured to the hatch cover by a chain; the hook being intended to pass through a suitable staple on the car-roof after the hasp member has been put into position. Considerable diiificulty and 'expense has been encountered with this type of :locking means because .the hooks are loose and'therefo're freer to become engaged with therunningboards on the car roof when the hooks are in unlocking position andthe hatch covers have been swung to complete open position; the chains permitting Vthe hooks at the ends to shiftabout on the car-roof. As a result, these hooksand/chains are often torn loose from the hatch cover when the operatorswings the heavy hatch cover to closed position and as a result the hook members become lost. With the conditions just mentioned, aside from tearing the hook loose from its fastenings,"the sheathing of the` hatch closure also frequently becomes torn Vloose or damagedyandas a result considerable renewal and repair eXpenseis encountered by the rail# roadsfin the maintenance of refrigerator cars.- Furthermore, with the present type of-fas# tening means, where the hooks are secured to the hatch closures by chains, the hook and free end of the chain frequently swing improperlyv beneath the closure member whilethe latter is being swung into'closed position,

thedrawings comprises the hasp member l5,y

which is intended to be secured to the top of the hatch closure member lor cover 16. Y

'The hasp member l5 comprises a suitable' Y lcasting having the straight body portion 17 provided with suitably positioned openings to receive the fastening` bolts 18 whereby the hasp is secured to the cover 16 adjacent to the free or unhinged side thereof, as shown in Figures 1 and 2; the cover being shown hinged at 19 to the car-roof, so as to swing clear of the hatch when desired.

The unattached end 20 of the hasp 15 eX- tends beyond the hatch cover as shown in Figure 2 and this end is preferably bifurcated as shown at 21 in Figure 3 and the bifurcated end disposed in the upwardly inclining manner shown in Figures 2 and et. In order to afford ample strength to the bifurcations and also to receive one end of the lock member, the hasp is shown provided with the upstanding longitudinal webs 22, 22, arranged along opposite sides of the hasp at the end 20, as more clearly shown in Figure 4.

The bifurcated or slotted portion of lthe hasp is intended to receive the usual L-shape lever 23 which is secured to the rcar-roof adjacent to the hatch, by means of the staple and link as at 24 in Figure 2, in order to permit the lever 23 to swing between the bifurcations and over the top of the hatch-cover 16, as shown, when the cover is locked in full closed position.

The lever 23 is generally provided with a y plurality of spaced holes as at 25, for the purpose of holding the cover' 16 in a desired raised position for purposes of ventilation and also to receive the locking member when in closed position.

My improved locking means involves the U-shape hook member 26; one side or leg whereof, namely leg 27, is somewhat shorter than the -other side or leg 28. This hook member is preferably circular in cross-section.

The web portions `22, 22 are provided withaligned openings 29 adapted to receive the leg 28 of the hook member and perm-it it to slide back and forth therein. The holes A29,

at one side, namely the side disposed toward the bifurcated end ofthe hasp, are each provided with the intersecting slot 30, see Figure 4. y

The long leg 28 of the hoolr member at its end is provided with a laterally disposed Ilug 31, which corresponds with the 'slot 30 and therefore permits the end or leg 28 `of the hook member 26 to be inserted through openings in the hasp member during Vassembly of the locking means.

As shown in Figure 3, the distance between the plane of the end of short leg 27 and the plaire of the lug `31 of the hook member 26 is less than lthe combined width and spacing of the bifurcations 21 of the `hasp member, with the result that after the hook member has been put into place, the free end of the leg 27 of the hook member will extend or remain in the hole of one of the bifurcations, as shown in Figure 3, because the lug 31 -will 'then be out of register with the slot portion 30 and` therefore prevent further outward sliding movement of the hook member.

The hoolr member 26 is made of suitable metal which will permit it to be bent as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, before assembly, thus enabling the leg 28 with its lug 31 to be inserted through the opening 29, after which the short leg 27 is then bent back to the normal position shown in full lines and therefore into the aligned holes 32 'in the bifurcations 21, 21 of the hasp.

It is apparent that after the hasp and hoo-lr members have been assembled as just described, withdrawal of the hook member 26 from the hasp 15 is impossible, because the lug 31 on the leg 28 of the hook member 2G is arranged toextend upwardly at a distance removed from the slot portion 30 of the opening in the hasp. rlhe lug 31 is constantly maintained in the upwardly disposed direction shown in dotted lines in Figure i because the short leg 27 of the hook member at all times remains in the hole 32 of one of the bifurcations 21 of the hasp and hence prevents rotation of the hook member about its aXis.

The leg 27, of the hook member 26, adjacent to its end, is provided with an opening extending transversely therethrough; the opening preferably in the nature of a slot as shown at the sectioned end at 33 in Figurev3; and leg 28, of the hoolr member, intermediate of its ends, namely in alignment to opening 33 in leg 27, is also provided with an opening extending transversely therethrough and preferably in the nature of a slot as shown in dotted lines at 3i in Figure 3.

rlhese slots are intended to receive the usual seal as indicated at 35 in Figure 1, which may be in the nature of a. wire or a strip of sheet meal which is passed through both slots and then bent'back so the two ends may be united with the usual solder or sealing material, vas shown at 36 in Figure 1.

The locking means, as shown in Figure 3, is in the maxim-um unlocking condition, namely in position to release the lever 23, because the end of the short leg 27 of the hook member is disposed entirely within the hole 32 of one of the -bifurcations of the hasp, as shown in dotted lines, thus permitting free movement of the lever 23 between the bifurcations 21 `of the hasp 15. To lock the hatch cover, the lever 23 is swung between the bifurcations of the hasp, either into the position shown in Figure 2, when the hatch cover 16 is to be in full closed position, or into 'a position where any one of the holes 25 of the lever 23 will register with the holes 32 in the bifurcations 21 of the 'hasp 15, `at which time the hook member'is slid toward the opposite side of the hasp, thus causing the short leg 27 of the hoolr member to pass through the hole in lever 23 which has been brought into register. The lengths of the legs 27 and 28 ofthev hook member are such that the slots 33 and 34 will then be posif tioned on the opposite side of the hasp from that shown inFigure 3, where the slots will be in the clear to receive the usual seal.

It is apparent from the construction shown and described, that the slot portions 30 of the openings 29 i1i the hasp are merely employed during insertion of the hook member; but after the leg 28 with its lug 31 has been inserted 'completely into place, the hook member is swung vupwardly and the short leg 27 is then bent back parallel with leg 28 and the end of leg 27 forced into the hole 32, thus moving lug 31 out of register with the slot portion 30 oit' openings 29. Withdrawalof the hook member 26'is then impossible. f

l/Vhere my improved locking means is toV be applied to equipment at present in use, the samevhasp member, shown at 37 in Figures 5 and 6, which is on the vrefrigerator car may be used. This hasp member 37 is generally secured on the hatch cover by means of two bolts, as shown at 38; the free end of the hasp member being inclined upwardly as vshown and this inclined portion V39 provided with the closed ended slot 40, which receives the lock lever 23. The upstanding portion 39 is provided with the aligned openings 41.

In order to apply my invention to such hasp, I provide the small hook holding plate or member 42, a portion whereof is flat and adapted to extend flush with the top. of the hasp 37 and this portion apertured to receive one of the bolts 38 whereby the hasp issecured to the hatch cover. The member 42 is shown somewhat vertically enlarged at one end and the lower tace of'this enlargement socketed, as shown at 43, to receive the long leg 44 of the hook lmember 45 and perf mit sliding movement thereof. 1 Y

The long leg of the hook member 45 is shown providedwith an enlargement or head 46 which prevents withdrawal of the hook member. This hook member 45, like hook member 26, is alsoprovided' with a shortleg 47 adapted to be slidingly mounted in the hole 41 of the inclined portion 39 of the hasp; with the length of leg 47 such that the distance'between the end of leg 47 and the head 46 of leg 44 is less than the transverse width of the inclined portion 390i the hasp member. As a result, it is apparent that after assembly, hook member 45 cannot be withdrawn and t-he short leg 47 will at all times be in position for immediate movement to locking` position after the desired hole 25 in lever 23 has been aligned with the short end 47.

In the locking means shown in Figures 5 and 6, the short leg 47 is first inserted into the opening 41 and the long leg 44 disposed across the main portion of the hasp 37 at the base of the inclined portion 39; the clip or holding member 42 is then placed over the long leg 44 of the hook member 45Yand secured in place by one of the bolts 38, as shown.

Like inthe previously described construcat 34 in Figure 5; the slots 34 being arranged so they will be disposed on the opposite side of the hasp member from that shown in Figure 5, so as' to be in the clear to receive the usual sealing element generally employed, as

for example the type shown in Figure 1, and

which prevents movement of the hook member back to the unlocking position shown in Figure 5. Y i

In Figures 7 to 9, I illustrate my improved locking means applied to a diiierent type of hatch closure which is more especially used on certain types of refrigerator cars generally employed for meat shipment, namely a cover which is not hingedly secured in place. In this type or refrigerator car, one end of therhatch cover is disposed beneath the run` ning board on the careroof'and the locking lever 23 is not employed. In this type of hatch closure, one end of the cover 48 (which normally is disposed in spaced relationwith Y the roof and over-hangs the side of the hatch is shown in Figure 8) is provided with the angularly bent, or somewhat Zshape hasp 49. One end of the hasp is secured on top of the hatch 'cover 48-by bolts as at 50,'with the intermediate portion of the hasp 49 depending at the forward end of the cover; while the free, horizontally disposed end of the hasp is intended to be disposed substantially parallel with the car-roof A.

' This free end of the hasp is provided with a slot to receive the staple memberl 51 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the car-roof as shown.

The hook member 52, which may be similar to hook member 45, is slidingly vsecured inl place by the clip or holding member 53, somewhat similar to clip member 42, except that it has a top flat face adapted to fit flush with the ylower sdeof the overhanging end of the hatch cover 48, and a flat vertical side adapted to lit flush against the intermediate vertically ,disposed` portion of the hasp 49. The vertically disposed face of the clip member 53 is socketed as shown at 54 for slidingly receiving the long leg of the hook member 52 and which leg has the enlargement or head 55 which prevents withdrawal of l the hook member. The short leg of the hook member is adapted to pass through vthe eye of the 4 Leva-.e413

D will be disposed on opposite sides of the staple 5l when 'the hook member 52 is in locking position, thus permitting the usual sealing wire or sealing element to be passed through the slot and the ends of the wire or element then soldered or sealed together in the usual manner, thus .preventing withdrawal of the short end or' the hook member from .the staple 5l without breaking the seal.

The construction shown in Figures 7 to 9,

like the construct-'ion shown in Figures 5 and" 6, may readily be app ied to equipment in use without change in construction, as the clip member 53 is provided with a vertically disposed aperture to receive one oi? the bolts 50 which fasten the hasp to the hatch cover; the hook member, like in the other constructions, being permanently secured in place and carried `by the hasp member which is secured to the hatch cover.

That is `to say, in `all of the forms of my invention herein disclosed, the hooi: members 'are islidinglysecured .to and carried by the hasp members of the :hatch closure, either as an integral part, so to speak, or asa supplemental and detachable part; the hook members being held in intimate relation with the hasp and therefore at all times following the position `of the 'free end of the hatch cover; with the hoolr members firmly held against accidental removal and hence free of the objections otdamage and loss heretoforeencountered with Ythe locking means at present in use.

I have shown what I believe to be simple embodiments of my invention which -liave been described in terms employed merely as terms of description and not as'terms of limitation, as 'structural modifications are possible without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. Locking means of the character, de scribed comprising an elongated hasp member one end whereof is inclined upwardly andbifurcated, the'biturcations at the outer ends having registering openings and at a point removed from the outer ends having registering openings and slots communicating with said openings; and a U-shaped hook member whose legs are of unequal length, the long-leg at its end being provided with'a laterally disposed portion corresponding with said slots .inthe hasp so vas to permit insertion of thelong leg into said openings Withtheslots, said slots being disposed in a direction beyond the swinging movement of the hook member when the hasp is secured in place and withdrawal of the hook member made impossible, the 'legs of the hook member being provided with aligned sealing medium receiving openings whereby ysliding movement in 'the hasp is prevented when the hook member is in locking position.

2. Locking means of the character described comprising Aan ,elongated hasp member, one end whereof is bifurcated to receive an apertured latch member therebetween.; the hasp member having registering o penings at the outer -end and communicating openings and slots removed from the i'irst mentioned openings; and a aiJ-shaped'hool inember'whose legs are Lof unequal length and arranged to slide in the openings in the hasp member, A,the long leg of .the hook member being provided at its end with alaterally disposed lug` adapted to initially pass through the slots before the `short log enters its corresponding,openings in the hasp member, lwith the length of the long leg of the hook lmember and positioning` of the lug being such that withdrawal of the short leg from vthe `openings in the hasp member beyond Vlatch member releasing position is impossible.

3. Locking :means of the character describedscomprising an elongated hasp member, one end whereof is bifurcated to receive an apertured latch member therebetween, the hasp member having registering openings at the outer end and non-circular openings removed rom lthe outer end; and a tml-shaped hook member whose legsl are of unequal lengthfand arranged to slide into said openings,ztlie long leg at its end having a laterally disposed ,lug adapted to initially `pass i through the non-circular openings, the lug being arranged to :be out of register withthe non-circular openings when the short leg hasentered the openings at the ends of the bifurcations, with the distance between the lugfand the plane of the end of the short legoffthe hook member'being such that complete-withdrawal otethe short leg ofthe hook member `from its openings in the hasp member is'impossible;;the end of the short leg and an`intermediate portion of the long leg beingprovided with aligned sealing medium receiving openings.

VICTOR II. HARBERT. 

